JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. Sergeant Danika Nolan's military exit date is a couple of weeks away, and she's getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she attended a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM's Hawk Career Center.

"I just try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, just to make certain I'm as prepared as possible," she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of work in various markets, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and teachersconsultancy.com addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were offered to answer working with concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State's Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, [empty] Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the job fair is "a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what type of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance," stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, July 10 and jobs.kwintech.co.ke Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, "gown for success," bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

An elevator pitch is a "fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you're looking to do," Handoe stated, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair's goals was to help people learn more about profession opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key advantage of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they're "not prepared to make that jump yet," or they have seen the readily available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

"We see that generally every year," he said. "We want them to make an informed decision about their career."

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, including credit reports, budgets and "developing a savings so you have something to work with when it's time to go out," Handoe said.

"Everybody's going to get out of the Army one day," he said, "however while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?"

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are searching for - consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling - and dessinateurs-projeteurs.com finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

"You must be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later down the road," he stated.

That preparation work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

"You require to enter into an employing reasonable with a strategy of what you're going to do and not simply meander around," Handoe stated.

He explained that attendees need to identify the companies they want to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and talked to some recruiters. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.